7 Day Tour from Casablanca: Imperial Cities, Sahara and Marrakech
One week, one private driver, and the whole classic circuit of Morocco. Starting at the Atlantic in Casablanca, you climb to the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, spend a full day in medieval Fes, ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night under the stars, follow the Todra and Dades gorges, and finish in Marrakech by way of the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.
- Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
- Starts: Casablanca (airport or hotel)
- Ends: Marrakech
- Route: Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Fes → Merzouga → Todra → Dades → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
- Price: on request, depends on group size, season and camp level
Highlights
- Hassan II Mosque and the royal capital Rabat on day one
- An evening wandering the blue-washed medina of Chefchaouen
- A full guided day in Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage medina
- Camel trek at sunset and a night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- The canyon walls of Todra Gorge and the winding road of the Dades Valley
- Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified village seen in many films
Day by Day
Day 1: Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
Pick-up in Casablanca and a guided visit of the Hassan II Mosque. Short stop in Rabat at the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas, then north through the Rif foothills to Chefchaouen. Night in a riad in the medina.
Day 2: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Fes
Morning photo walk through the blue lanes and up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint. Drive south to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss before reaching Fes.
Day 3: Full day in Fes
A licensed guide leads you through Fes el-Bali: the Bou Inania madrasa, the Chouara tannery, the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and the artisan quarters. Afternoon free, or visit the Merinid tombs for a sunset view over the city.
Day 4: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga
Cross the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the cedar forests, where Barbary macaques live, then descend through the Ziz Valley and its palm groves. At Merzouga you swap the car for a camel and ride into the dunes for sunset, dinner and a night at camp.
Day 5: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge
Watch the sunrise from the dunes and ride back for breakfast. Visit the market town of Rissani, then drive west past the oases of Tinejdad to the towering walls of Todra Gorge. Night near the gorge or in the Dades Valley.
Day 6: Dades Valley → Valley of Roses → Ouarzazate
Follow the Dades road with its famous hairpin bends and rock formations, continue through Kelaat M'Gouna, known for rose cultivation, and the Skoura palm grove, ending in Ouarzazate or at Ait Ben Haddou.
Day 7: Ait Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Explore the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou in the morning light, then cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional English- or Spanish-speaking driver
- 6 nights: riads and hotels with breakfast, plus one night in a desert camp with dinner
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Local guides in Casablanca and Fes
- Fuel, tolls and bottled water
Not included: lunches, dinners outside the camp, entrance fees, tips.
Good to Know
- Driving: the longest day is Fes to Merzouga (about 7 to 8 hours with stops); every other day is shorter.
- Camp choice: choose a standard or a luxury camp with private bathrooms; we will suggest one that suits your dates.
- Shorter options: if you have less time, see the 4 day Casablanca to Marrakech tour or the 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour.